State troopers charge ‘Arbitrary, antiquated’ processes are biased

Twenty-three black and Hispanic state troopers are suing the New Jersey State Police, alleging bias in promotions, training, special assignments and discipline.

The lawsuit claims the department’s promotion system is “an arbitrary, antiquated and subjective process that is skewed in favor of male Caucasians.”

Of the department’s 3,063 troopers, only 449 are black or Hispanic. New Jersey’s population is 14.5% black and 15.6% Hispanic. “The New Jersey State Police, through its culture, has always prevented its ranks from reflecting the population that it serves in the state through greatly under-represented numbers of persons of color and women,” the lawsuit states. The agency employs 119 women, 103 of whom are white.

The officers seek an overhaul of the promotions system, plus damages.

Note: Discrimination does not have to be intentional. Companies should periodically audit hirings, promotions and firings to see whether their policies tend to favor one group of people over another.